CNN host Kaitlan Collins presses GOP senator on Trump's influence over lawmakers

An historic deal that lawmakers have been hashing out since October is purportedly at risk thanks to Donald Trump.

Sen. Mike Rounds (R-SD) spoke to CNN's Kaitlan Collins on "The Source" about how critical legislation is in danger of being killed by the former president playing pretend POTUS.

"You're hearing from the Republicans working on this that it is the best opportunity, they say, these are conservative Republican senators that it's the best deal in decades — but moments ago, Trump posted on Truth Social essentially arguing that you shouldn't take the deal and that even if it pushes the country to closing up for a while, that it's worth not taking this deal."

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Rounds explained that former President Donald Trump "has always prided himself being a negotiator" and that his efforts are to kickstart a give-and-take.

"Sounds to me like the opening lines of negotiations," he said.

Earlier on Thursday, Trump did post on his Truth Social app about the prospective deal that reads, "I do not think we should do a Border Deal, at all, unless we get EVERYTHING needed to shut down the INVASION of Millions & Millions of people, many from parts unknown, into our once great, but soon to be great again, Country!"

He added: "Also, I have no doubt that our wonderful Speaker of the House, Mike Johnson, will only make a deal that is PERFECT ON THE BORDER. Remember, without Strong Borders and Honest Elections, we don’t have a Country!!!"

Collins asked Rounds, "So you're not worried that Trump is going to sink this bill?"

He responded, "Naturally, it would feel better to all of us if, you know, if everybody on the outside would simply say, 'Look, we all recognize the need to fix it in order to move forward to get the border secure.'"

"But, look, there are different ways of getting that done."

And as if he was sending a sweet lullaby to Trump's heart, Rounds propped up the business tycoon's acumen.

"Sometimes people think that in making the art of the deal you start out with a real, real hard line and then you can always negotiate back," he said, slipping in the 45th president's former hit credo and book.

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